Sunday 2 December 2007

Ian Brown, Brixton Academy - Thursday 29th November *

Well its been a strange 7 days for gigs...last Friday Amy Winehouse gave an unexpected rebel rousing performance and the man I have been looking forward to seeing for about 6 months was a total let down.

He came storming onto the stage to "I wanna be adored" and I mistakenly thought I was in for a legendary performance but the problem is fairly simple. The man cannot sing live. I don't mean yeah he was just a bit of key, with the odd note, occasionally I mean the whole set was out...big time.

Despite being one of my favourite studio artists I just can't defend the performance. Ok he was full of energy, he engaged the crowd - he's a funny guy but honestly nothing can make up for this shambles of a set. Finishing on F.E.A.R I grabbed my dancing partner and left - I have never left a gig early in my whole 27 years and believe it is so so sad people had to witness such a shit gig from such an admired artist.

Its kinda like the moment you find out that Elvis died on the loo chronically obese - there is nothing left to say and no way you can defend it.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's genuinely disappointing from a man held in such high esteem by so many...not something you really expect to hear. Shame.

The Wanderings said...

It pained me to write it to ne hoenst but I can't lie. I was thinking of writing nothing but then thats not fair either...

Hopefully the next gig be better x

Unknown said...

I photographed him in Cambridge last month and it was quite disappoing either.
Starting with such an anthemic songs didn't help him to follow it up.

good to portray though
Ian pics here

ciao
Valerio
check the queens of the stone age soon on liveon35mm

souler said...

I saw him a few years ago and i rate it in the top 2 gigs i been to, alongside the pixes, Unkle came on, Noel Gallagher came on etc...

So with this gig..

He started out with I wanna be adored and i was going balistic.

Started texting everyone this is the best gig ever! then the rest of the set was utter shite, i had to leave I felt like i had bad taste in music and only just realised it. Its like I just dicovered my dad having an affair and all my admoration for him had gone out the window.

Anonymous said...

Just saw Ian Brown in his Sydney gig at Playground weekender festiveal. It was like a bad karaoke. I am not exaggerating. And I think all other band players knew it because, they all playing worse and worse, as if they were embarrassed, losing interest. Everything was coming out flat like a shit car stereo. I am very happy to listen to his cd, but to take my money to see him live, singing in tune, getting the timing right are the minimal acceptable expectations. failure to do so is down right unprofessional.

If you are a fan but have never seen him live, don't do it. Of course many people would give him excuses, he got bad ears, he sings from his heart ...blab blab..well...suit yourself then.

Ray

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